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Reckling to play for U.S. in Futures Game

Reckling to play for U.S. in Futures Game

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By Lyle Spencer
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MLB.com |

ANAHEIM -- Trevor Reckling, a 20-year-old left-hander from New Jersey -- born in Livingston, a resident of Irvington -- has been selected to represent the Angels on the U.S. Team against a World squad in the 2009 XM All-Star Futures Game in St. Louis.

The 11th annual XM All-Star Futures Game, pitting the best Minor League prospects from the United States against the best from the rest of the World, will be held at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on All-Star Sunday, July 12, at 8 a.m. PT. MLB.com will provide complete coverage before, during and after the game, which can be seen live on ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD and followed live on Gameday.

Trevor Reckling, LHP, Doube-A Arkansas (U.S. Team)
An eighth-round choice in the 2007 First-Year Player Draft out of St. Benedict's Prep School in Newark, Reckling has rocketed through the Angels' farm system with a full repertoire of pitches and a confident manner.

Reckling opened the 2009 season at high Class A Rancho Cucamonga, where he appeared in three games with a 0.95 ERA and 0.63 WHIP (walks and hits per nine innings) while going a deceptive 1-2 in 19 innings, striking out 16 with three walks.

Promoted to Double-A Arkansas, he is 4-2 with a 2.52 ERA in 11 starts. Across 64 1/3 innings, he has 50 strikeouts against 35 walks with a 1.32 WHIP. He has surrendered only one home run.

With good size at 6-foot-2 and 205 pounds, his fastball gets in the low 90s, but his best pitch is a big curveball with exceptional break. He also has a changeup that he consistently puts in good zones.

Reckling, one of the youngest pitchers in each of the leagues he's pitched in, was 13-8 at the entry levels with a 3.25 ERA coming into this season. He had 183 strikeouts in 188 1/3 innings.

The Angels don't want to rush him, but he is rising quickly on the organizational depth chart and could nail down a spot in the rotation by 2011 or even 2010 if the need arises.

Lyle Spencer is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.